Arson caused $1.2-million fire in Mill Woods, investigators say

Investigators have determined a Mill Woods fire that destroyed one house and damaged neighbouring homes earlier this week was deliberately set.

Fire officials will now be working with Edmonton police arson detectives on the case, fire department spokesman Michael Tucker said Tuesday.

Crews received a call at 1:26 a.m. Monday and arrived to find the home in flames at 41st Street and 29th Avenue. Thirteen people fled to safety.

Mohammed Atique lives in the house with his wife Asmin and their two daughters.

On Tuesday, he was told the fire had been set outside the house, near the front door.

“It’s kind of crazy, whoever did that,” he said.

About two years ago, a car parked in the family’s driveway was damaged after it was set on fire. He believes the same man is responsible for both fires. “He had some issues with my family,” he said.

On Monday, Asmin Atique woke to the sound of shattering glass and initially thought someone was breaking into the house.

As her husband went to investigate, they saw flames.

“The fire was huge, coming through the windows,” she said.

Asmin, Mohammed, their two daughters, Alisha, 22, and Shazleen, 24, and their daughter’s boyfriend escaped out the back.

The house had been home to the family for 19 years.

The basement tenants — a man, his pregnant wife and the man’s parents, who recently moved from Pakistan — also escaped, as did four people from a neighbouring house that was heavily damaged.

Asmin said the four tenants did not have insurance.

A Red Cross spokeswoman said they have helped four adults from the fire, providing accommodation, food and clothing.

“Right now I’m so disappointed and stressed out,” Mohammed Atique said Tuesday. “Everything in the house is lost.”

The family’s cat, Lexus, is still missing.

Fire officials estimate onethird of all fires in Edmonton are deliberately set.

Damage in Monday’s fire has been set at $1.2 million.